T. H. and the Wreckage Born To Rock Black Rose-Rounder By Kevin Connal

Sixties’ garage rock collides with bluesy southern boogey on a versatile debut by this North Shore quartet. Despite low budget local production, the sound is surprisingly sharp. Lead singer Tom Hambridge walks the line between a modern day Bo Diddley and Marshall Crenshaw. On a raucous romp like the nasty “Bad Mood” or the feverish title track, he evokes images of George Thorogood, as piledriving guitars fuel the unrestrained rave-ups. A whiplashing rhythm propels the catchy “Don’t Hold Back,” a melodic pop song sung with workman-like precision by guitarist Bobby Stanton. While Hambridge and company are at their best when they kick up their heels and let things rip, they do deliver a pair of noteworthy ballads in “She’s My Girl” and “Certified Love.” “Walking the Streets” is an intriguing ditty about feeling displaced to the streets of Boston. Hambridge sings it with an annoying nasal tone, though it meshes comfortably with the accompanying twanging country guitar. This is a solid first effort from a promising Boston band.